Hue to hold thanh tra festival

The former imperial city of Hue will hold a festival in honour of its
special fruit thanh tra, a local variety of grapefruit, and its
growers.

During the two-day festival from August 29 to 31, the
fruit and dishes made from it would be displayed. Visitors would also
have a chance to help the fruit growers harvest thanh tra in orchards.

Thanh
tra was an exclusive food item meant for the king in the past, and
ordinary people rarely got a chance to taste it. The trees grow well in
Hue only, in fields lined with alluvia deposited by the local Huong and
Bo rivers.

Thanh tra is said to taste better than grapefruit and
good-quality essential oil is extracted from its peel. The fruit can be
served fresh, mixed with fried squid, or cooked as a sweet soup.

The
local authorities expect that many people would get to know and taste
the fruit at the festival, which would help increase its sale.